trip report 8/12

[US1YFARE]

Ok, I said I would never fly WN, but when I have to pay 4 times as much, it is time to reconsider, especially with the new business select. I approached one gate agent and was ignored. It was the wrong gate, but still I was ignored which is really nothing different than any other airline, except CO. I went to another gate agent, the correct gate, and I asked how the boarding process worked...he explained and I took my spot at A4 for my PHL-MHT flt. When they announced boarding, I got in line. They pre-boarded wheelchairs and then business select. Everyone was friendly. Closed the door 5 mins early--full flight and I got an exit row. The -300 was immaculate...honestly. I was shocked when I found out it was a -300. Safety demo and then we hauled arse out of phl. Drink orders taken--no carts on WN??? Then snack basket. No silly announcements. All female crew. Very professional. I got my free drink and then I asked for another. 4 bucks!!! Shocking they can still make money. I told the f/a it was my first flight and she said, well this drink is on the house! I had even already given her my money. WN is doing something right. I don't think I could fly them a transcon or long haul, but for short flights it is a no-brainer if you are flying business select. And the cost for business select is de minimus. Good job.

 

[N421LV]

Welcome aboard! Glad you had a good experience.

First ArtinISP, now you....maybe PineyBob will give us a try next?

 

[US1YFARE]

Thanks. I flew WN again today. Business Select. I never thought boarding on a full flight could be so orderly and I must say all of the people have been very nice. Immaculate 737-300. I like the fact that there are no carts in the aisle, and even on a short flight, no one rolls their eyes or gets annoyed when you order any type of drink. Apparently, WN has something magical that enables them to do a full beverage service on a flight that US would offer only express beverage service or whatever they call it. No silly announcements or games--thankfully. One F/A made some silly comments to pax, but I guess that is better than two F/A's talking about their third husband leaving them for babysitter while everyone is boarding.


My next flight is tomorrow.

I do have a serious question. I notice that when the F/A's give their demo, they all smile when they look at the customers. It struck me as odd because I am always so used to at least one F/A with a sour puss on, or at least expressionless, when they have to do the manual demo, whether it is on US, AA or CO. Is that something they "learn" in "training"?

 

[mrman]

Now that your a "regular" take some notice how they run there operation compared to US:

Notice that your seatbelts are crossed on your seat so you don't have to search for them
Try to fly a direct flight sometime and when you stay on the plane watch the turn around operation from the inside, FA cleaning the plane, non-revs helping cross seatbelts, provisioning coming in to mop out toilets etc
Notice that actual boarding does not start until about 10 minutes from flight time yet they can board have everyone seated and leave early
I swear for some unkown reason WN flights empty faster
Notice that the flight attendant will look you in the eye no matter how short your flight is and ask if you want another cocktail
If you can't get exit row, get row where flight attendent starts serving cocktails
Looks like your business select , but when you get your first free ticket (credits or flying) you will get a drink coupon book
Once you get your coupon book its customary to share your coupons with your fellow passengers
After 100 credits (flying or partners) you get a companion pass. Your companion flys free even if you are flying on an award ticket
Connect in LAS. Lose some cash on the slots. Best hub IMO
Check out the local food selection at new MDW. Outstanding
Notice that gate agent ground personell are actually waiting for you, rather than the airplane waiting for them
Notice that you don't feel raped no matter what fare you paid

 

[KCFlyer]

Apparently, WN has something magical that enables them to do a full beverage service on a flight that US would offer only express beverage service or whatever they call it.

I've had them do a full drink service on an MCI-TUL flight - full flight. The gate to gate time (not flying time) is 50 minutes for that flight.

 

[LoneStarMike]

I've had them do a full drink service on an MCI-TUL flight - full flight. The gate to gate time (not flying time) is 50 minutes for that flight.

Same here on the AUS-DAL flights - some also completely full. 35 minutes flying time, 50 minutes gate-to-gate.

 

[ELP_WN_Psgr]

Hopefully Piney Bob will be next. The real celebrations will begin, though, when Art gets his first RR ticket voucher and drink coupons in the mail .

I too can vouch for full beverage service on short, full flights......LAS-ONT, BHM-BNA, FLL-MCO....but most impressively AUS-HOU. Granted, the last round of drinks got served when the plane was roughly over Cypress-Fairbanks (a HOU suburb) but 137 was a lot of folks to serve in 28 mins enroute time.

I've preached it for years but there are some things more important (MUCH more important) than an assigned seat, to wit:

Cordial staff
Pleasant service
Clean aircraft
No nickel-and-diming
The feeling of never, ever, being molested (or worse) by the fare being charged
A comfortable Coach cabin
Bags either waiting for you in baggage claim or arriving there within a few moments of when you get there
No punitive change fees.
It gets down to this. WN knows what running an airline is supposed to be about and always has. The other guys are out there flapping. The management of US and other so called legacies are flagellating in a vacuum, for lack of a better way to put it.

And it all starts with each flight. Southwest looks at each flight...not each station, not each route....as a profit center. Employees seem to instinctively know that if they get a flight out on time, with a good load.....that the passengers will be happy and come back and spend more money. It's never "heck, it's just Harlingen, the passengers have no choice but us, we really don't need to worry about it." The employees make a concerted effort to ensure that each flight goes well, and they build their system one flight at a time.

 

[I'mRayFlyMe]

Glad to hear of your experience. One word about the "humorous announcements": they are still done occasionally by the flight attendants. They pretty much have a good feel for when they would be appropriate, and if nothing else when the humorous safety instructions are done, you KNOW the passengers are paying attention!

 

[SKY HIGH]

Apparently, WN has something magical that enables them to do a full beverage service on a flight.

What is magical is that they DONT HAVE FIRST CLASS. They divide the entire COACH cabin by the amount of F/A's they have onboard. ALL OTHER MAJOR carriers have ONE or TWO F/A's working up front which leaves a minimum compliment of F/A's IN THE BACK. Southwest F/A's average ONLY 40 passengers per flight to serve A DRINK, NOT SO ON OTHER CARRIERS.

Now that wasnt so magical.

Smile during the SAFETY demo? I dunno, maybe it's just me, but that's SERIOUS INFORMATION THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.


(MY OPINION)

 

[KCFlyer]

Smile during the SAFETY demo? I dunno, maybe it's just me, but that's SERIOUS INFORMATION THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.


(MY OPINION)

Is my life of so little importance that the job of telling me how to save it is turned over to a VIDEO MONITOR???
Can the sweet thing in the video telling my my seat cushion floats see that I haven't looked up from the Skymall magazine?

Thanks for the explanation of the first class cabin duties. I now understand why on other airlines a flight of just over 60 minutes means that the coach cabin crew can't conduct beverage service because of the "short flight time". It's amazing what an impact those 8 front seats can have on the 130 other passengers.

Did you miss the part where the OP mentioned the drink service on a full flight (in a 737) with a gate to gate time of one hour? Dis all you want my friend...a die hard NOTICED this. Would the other airline even OFFER a 737 with a first class cabin on that route? They don't seem to offer drink service.....

 

[swflyer]

US1YFare?? Thanks for giving us a try!! We're not always perfect, but we do all work on getting the job done for you.

Uh, Bitter?? Party of One??

137 / 3 = 45.6 AND I offer peanuts and seconds on that short flight. 🙄

"What is magical" is we hire for attitude and train for skill. I can be nice, sarcastic, celebratory, compassionate and, if ever necessary, hard as nails with a problem or emergency. "What is magical" is my job is too easy to make as hard as you do. How hard is it to be nice?? (My Opinion)

Seriously, I'm sorry you're so angry, but I can certainly understand why some people would be, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

What is magical is that they DONT HAVE FIRST CLASS. They divide the entire COACH cabin by the amount of F/A's they have onboard. ALL OTHER MAJOR carriers have ONE or TWO F/A's working up front which leaves a minimum compliment of F/A's IN THE BACK. Southwest F/A's average ONLY 40 passengers per flight to serve A DRINK, NOT SO ON OTHER CARRIERS.
(MY OPINION)

 

[KCFlyer]

One other thing US1...I believe that this is still true (WN employees can set me straight if I'm wrong), but WN used to route all letters they received, good or bad, thru the system so that the employees could see what they were doing right, and areas where they might be able to improve. IMHO, when you see what the customer is saying, it has more impact than some dictate from the corner offices (although there really aren't any "corner offices" at LUV HQ).

 

[SKY HIGH]

Is my life of so little importance that the job of telling me how to save it is turned over to a VIDEO MONITOR???
Can the sweet thing in the video telling my my seat cushion floats see that I haven't looked up from the Skymall magazine?

Thanks for the explanation of the first class cabin duties. I now understand why on other airlines a flight of just over 60 minutes means that the coach cabin crew can't conduct beverage service because of the "short flight time". It's amazing what an impact those 8 front seats can have on the 130 other passengers.

Did you miss the part where the OP mentioned the drink service on a full flight (in a 737) with a gate to gate time of one hour? Dis all you want my friend...a die hard NOTICED this. Would the other airline even OFFER a 737 with a first class cabin on that route? They don't seem to offer drink service.....

Video, demo?......that wasnt the issue, CORNBOY. should a NURSE smile while inserting a needle into your arm? It's serious information. Save the smile for interaction in the aisle.

8 people UP FRONT?.....130 OTHER PEOPLE. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT. That's a total of 192 people onboard, the aircraft you're mumbling about.
if your talking about ANOTHER AIRCRAFT.........dont know one that has EIGHT UP FRONT. MOST HAVE 12 TO 16 FIRST CLASS SEATS.

Flights 30 minutes in flight time are offered drinks in FIRST. yes, they SEEM to offer that.

(my opinion)

 

[SKY HIGH]

🙄

"What is magical" is we hire for attitude and train for skill. I can be nice, sarcastic, celebratory, compassionate and, if ever necessary, hard as nails with a problem or emergency. "What is magical" is my job is too easy to make as hard as you do. How hard is it to be nice?? (My Opinion)


Seriously, I'm sorry you're so angry, but I can certainly understand why some people would be, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

SPARE ME the attitude lecture. NOR have you ever worked with me....so your points are....conjecture.

I'll just do what YOU DID--------------------------> :::🙄::::

WAS THAT MAGICAL HIRING:

http://www.kxan.com/global/story.asp?s=7862497

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=n...&id=4345449

http://video.nbc5i.com/player/?id=218093

my opinion

 

[SKY HIGH]

137 / 3 = 45.6 AND I offer peanuts and seconds on that short flight. 🙄

(my opinion)

uhhhh, I SAID, AVERAGE, now didnt I? I took the second largest capacity to be FAIR.

That's the 500 series. http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Southwest...ing_737-500.php

122 / 3 = 40 🙄